1. (a)

   1. (1) A person may register:

      1. (i) a class of returnable containers if:

         1. 1. the person owns or deals in goods handled or delivered in a returnable container; and
         2. 2. the returnable container has an identifying name, mark, or device securely attached, impressed, or imprinted; or

      2. (ii) a class of returnable textiles, if the person:

         1. 1. is in the business of regularly supplying clean laundered returnable textiles; and
         2. 2. periodically exchanges the clean returnable textiles for soiled returnable textiles.
   2. (2) A person who has registered a returnable container or returnable textile under State law is not required to reregister the returnable container or returnable textile.

2. (b) To register a returnable container or returnable textile a person shall:

   1. (1)

      1. (i) prepare a clear statement of the character of the returnable container or returnable textile; and
      2. (ii) prepare a comprehensive description of the identifying name, mark, or device attached, impressed, imprinted, woven, or produced;
   2. (2) sign and acknowledge the comprehensive description before an officer qualified to take an acknowledgment to deeds in the State;

   3. (3) publish the signed and acknowledged comprehensive description:

      1. (i) in two successive issues, in different weeks, of a newspaper published in the county in which the principal office, place of business, or agency of the person is located; or
      2. (ii) twice a week for 2 successive weeks in a daily newspaper published in Baltimore City if the principal office, place of business, or agency of the person is located in Baltimore City; and
   4. (4) file with the Secretary of State the comprehensive description and a certificate of publication, certified by the owner or manager of the newspaper in which the comprehensive description was published.
3. (c) A person may transfer a registration by filing a copy of the assignment or transfer with the Secretary of State.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The Secretary of State shall record each:

      1. (i) comprehensive description filed under subsection (b) of this section;
      2. (ii) certificate of publication filed under subsection (b) of this section; and
      3. (iii) transfer filed under subsection (c) of this section.
   2. (2) On application, the Secretary of State shall provide to the applicant a certified copy of a recorded filing.

   3. (3) The Secretary of State shall establish reasonable fees:

      1. (i) for recording under this section; and
      2. (ii) for providing copies of records filed under this section.

5. (e) A certified copy of a comprehensive description and a certificate of publication or of a transfer with the seal of the Secretary of State attached is:

   1. (1) evidence that the person complied with this subtitle; and

   2. (2) prima facie evidence of:

      1. (i) title to or right to use, collect, or deliver the corresponding returnable containers; and
      2. (ii) title to the corresponding returnable textiles.

Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 4, eff. Oct. 1, 2002.

Formerly Art. 27, §§ 471, 472, 473, 479.